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Best battery for seldom used truck

DRS 95 Silverado
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DRS 95 Silverado Enthusiast

DRS 95 Silverado

Posted
Posted

2014 GMC 1/2 ton. Only have 18,000 miles on it. I've got a Delco 94RPG in it now thats 4 years old. Seems a little sluggish when starting like they do when they get old. Truck sets for a week or better sometimes. Some trips 20 miles or more but some short ones also. I have put a charger on it once in a while but I don't want the hassle of leaving one on it all the time. Would I be better off with an AGM or stick with the flooded battery like its always had? The wifes Cherokee has an AGM but thats what it came with from the factory and it has that stupid  start/stop feature on it so I replaced it with another AGM.

rav3 Senior Enthusiast

rav3

Posted
Posted

Either would work in my opinion BUT I'll probably go with an AGM. Keep us posted on what you decide.

txab Senior Enthusiast

txab

Posted
Posted

AGM would be my go to, but I'd still stick a maintainer on it to get full life. I do this now on 2 vehicles.It's no hassle to put it on.

 

Use maintainer if you use a regular flooded LA battery

  • Like 1
m3n00b Enthusiast

m3n00b

Posted
Posted

I'm in the same boat.  Get the 4 year AGM from Costco and bring it in and exchange it every 3 years

sheath Enthusiast

sheath

Posted
Posted

AGM and Flooded cell are both the same chemical reaction, with resultant sulfation issues.  Might be worth your time to looking into using a Battery Conditioner on a regular basis to help with the sulfation issue.  You may even be able to get some additional life from your current battery.  

Here is an article which discusses and provides some suggestions to look at. 

Battery desulfator

 

Instead of leaving the charger plugged in constantly, you could always setup a schedule to run a conditioning cycle.  That's not as effective in the long run as keeping the battery in daily maintenance mode, because the battery is still sulfating.  Even in the best scenario not all of the sulfate deposit will be kicked off the plates and reabsorbed in the electrolyte.  But that may fit your "lifestyle" better, which means it has a better chance for success based on your willingness to participate in a consistent fashion.

 

Hope this helps. :cheers:

DRS 95 Silverado Enthusiast

DRS 95 Silverado

Posted
  • Author
Posted
40 minutes ago, sheath said:

AGM and Flooded cell are both the same chemical reaction, with resultant sulfation issues.  Might be worth your time to looking into using a Battery Conditioner on a regular basis to help with the sulfation issue.  You may even be able to get some additional life from your current battery.  

Here is an article which discusses and provides some suggestions to look at. 

Battery desulfator

 

Instead of leaving the charger plugged in constantly, you could always setup a schedule to run a conditioning cycle.  That's not as effective in the long run as keeping the battery in daily maintenance mode, because the battery is still sulfating.  Even in the best scenario not all of the sulfate deposit will be kicked off the plates and reabsorbed in the electrolyte.  But that may fit your "lifestyle" better, which means it has a better chance for success based on your willingness to participate in a consistent fashion.

 

Hope this helps. :cheers:

10/6/2 Amp 6/12V Intelligent Battery Charger / Maintainer - Clore Automotive

I use this charger on it once in a while. I'm a little concerned about the AGM working with my charging system the way it's supposed to. It's had a regular battery from the factory. 

sheath Enthusiast

sheath

Posted
Posted

 AGM is still a Lead Acid battery with a specific gravity of approximately 1.265@80*F.  So voltages are the same (float of about 13.2V - 13.8V).  As long as your stock charging system is working correctly and properly maintained, it will charge the AGM battery just fine.

AGM has come a long way over the years, and is a solid choice.  Just make sure to get a battery which meets the requirements of your truck (CCA & Reserve Capacity).

 

mikeyk101 Senior Enthusiast

mikeyk101

Posted
Posted

I just replaced my battery late last year in my 2016. I went with IIRC, the 94R AGM battery from Costco. My old battery still would start but since it was 5 years old and winter was coming, I wanted to replace it. Mine sits in front of the house on city street so a maintainer is out of the question. I do a lot of short drives of under 2 miles once a day during the week but it has also sat for almost a week or 2 several times. I also have a dash cam that will be active even when truck is off. So far, even in the cold (down to single digits several times) it has always started and I have not needed to jump it.

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

My wife’s 01 Acura intagra type r has had 4 batteries. I drive it once a month 8-10 miles. After the battery is about 1 year old I put a trickle charge on it for about 3 hours every two weeks. For some reason after market alarms drain batteries. Iv had other collector cars that I usually would drive every one-two weeks that I never needed to charge. A regular battery every 4 years is reasonable.

DRS 95 Silverado Enthusiast

DRS 95 Silverado

Posted
  • Author
Posted
14 hours ago, mikeyk101 said:

I just replaced my battery late last year in my 2016. I went with IIRC, the 94R AGM battery from Costco. My old battery still would start but since it was 5 years old and winter was coming, I wanted to replace it. Mine sits in front of the house on city street so a maintainer is out of the question. I do a lot of short drives of under 2 miles once a day during the week but it has also sat for almost a week or 2 several times. I also have a dash cam that will be active even when truck is off. So far, even in the cold (down to single digits several times) it has always started and I have not needed to jump it.

No Costco anywhere around here. If I go with an AGM I'll probably go with one from O'Reilly's or a Delco. Got a buddy at a dealer that always gives me a good deal on the Delco's over the years. I checked it yesterday and it was 60% charged.  I had drove it about 30 miles the day before. I put the charger on it yesterday and overnight. Just went out and it was done charging. I'm going to watch it for a while before I decide.

  • Like 1
DRS 95 Silverado Enthusiast

DRS 95 Silverado

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Anyone here use a conductance tester to check batterys? Been thinking about getting one. Something like this one.

 

Amazon.com: FOXWELL BT705 12V 24V Car Battery Tester Automotive 100-2000 CCA Battery Load Tester Auto Cranking and Charging System Test Scan Tool Digital Battery Alternator Analyzer for Vehicle, Heavy Duty Truck : Automotive

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted

I just use a 1/2 amp Battery Tender smart charger and leave it on all winter for my stored vehicles and hard wire one to my daily drivers I just plug in at the grill. 7 to 10 years on most of my Interstate LA batteries. :dunno:

  • Like 1
pokismoki Senior Enthusiast

pokismoki

Posted
Posted

definatly get a charger on it, doing so helps the batteries live a little longer, dont waste money on AGM,  go with the flooded and the money you save get the battery tender smart charger

  • 2 weeks later...
Gagliano7 Enthusiast

Gagliano7

Posted
Posted

I have a red top optima in my 1992 silverado. I have a schumacher battery maintainer on it when i am not using it. I put the battery in 2011. 11 years and still going.

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